Dry-pipe-valve-accelerating device



June 1 1926. f 1,586,722

E. TYDEN DRY PIPE VALVE ACCLERATING DEVICE Filed August 25, 1923 Ill/IIA Jffczaizzafsf Patented June 1, 1926.

irs@ TE EMIL TYDEN, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

DRY-PIPEVALVE-ACCELERATING DEVICE.

i Application led August 25, 1923. Serial No. 659,331.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved construction in a dry pipe sprinkler system tor accelerating the opening ot the dry pipe main valve upon the opening of the sprinkler' head with 'a specilic purpose oi preventing the opening of the main valve upon an occurrence ot minor negligible leakage in the air system amounting to less than would occur through a single open sprinkler head. It consists in the elements and features ot construction shown and` described as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings Figurelis av partly sectionalftr-mit elevation of a dry pipe valve casing and connected water and air-.pipes equipped with the devices embodying this invention, the dry pipe valve casing being partly broken away and shown in section through the interseat chamber belowthe main valve. i Figure 2 is-a side elevation from the side at which the hand hole of the main dry pipe valve casing is located.

Figure 3 is a detail section at the line, 3 8, on Figure 5 showing the parts on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a section at the line 4-4, on Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section at the line, 5-5, on Figure 6. f

Figure 6 is'an elevation looking` in the div rection of the arrows, 6 6, on Figure 2.

Figure 7 is avplan view of a detail seen looking in the direction of the arrow, 7, on Figure l.

In the structure shown in the drawing, A

is the dry pipe valve casing, B the water in lead pipe, C the pipe leading to the sprinkler system which, in the normal condition ot the apparatus, when set for its purpose, 4is occupied by air in compression. D is the dry pipe main valve having the usual construction for seating at two concentric seats, A10 and All, between which there is the usual 'interseat chamber, a. in which the pressure is normally atmospheric, so that the compressed air pressure, operating above the valve B, over the larger` area defined by the outer seat A11, as compared with the area defined by the inner seat A10, over which the water pressure is operative, insures the valve D being held seated by a super-atmospheric pressure in the system of about lbs. against water pressure in the main which may reach k100 lbs. When a sprinkler head is opened, causing reduction of the superatmospheric pressure in the system which eventually results'in the dry pipe main valve D being opened by the water pressure and the water thereby being sent to the open sprinkler head, it is desirable that the opening oi the valve should be delayedv as little as possible after the sprinkler head is opened and the reduction of air pressure lin the system begins; but when only a single sprinkler head is opened by the tire, it may require a very appreciable length of time Jfor the air pressure to be reduced so as to permit the dry pipe main valve to open. The purpose o1" the present invention is to cause the amount ot' reduction of air pressure in the system which will be experienced almost instantly upon the opening of a single sprinkler head, to result in overcoming the dit erential pressure upon the upper side of the valve which holds it seated, so that the valve will open almost instantly upon the opening of the sprinkler head. This is effected by means 'ot devices which are sensitive to the slight reduction oit pressure which occurs almost instantly upon` the opening of the sprinkler head, and which, responding to that slight reduction, operate to open a communication 'from C, one of the pressure regions,-the region of water pressure operating over the lesser area of the valve D, or the region 4of air pressure operating over the greater area of the valve,-to the inter seat chamber, a, below the dry pipe main valve, hereinafter referred to as the atmospheiic pressure chamber. These devices are designed with the view to responding. as indicated, to the reduction et pressure which tollows the opening of a single sprinkler head, while not responding to less reduction of pressure which may result trom minor negligible leakages in the system. These deviceswill now be described.

Bracketed upon any convenient part` ot the'structure, as for example, upon the air pipe C, as shown, there is a plate 'G upon the upper side of which there are applied y two Vflexible diaphragme, g and g1' which are suitably secured at their margins by spider clamps, G2 and G3, the plate Gr has under each diaphragm an aperture, said apertures being of different diameters, the aperture g2, under the vdiaphragm retained by the spider G2, being larger than the aperture, g3, under the diaphragm retained by the spider G. From the air pipe C ot the s vstem, a pipe H leads bv branches H1 and H1', to the plate G, being connected thereto at the apertures g2 and .(/3 respectively. To the diaphragms g/ and ,f/1. there are applied stems, .l and J1. which obtain guidancey at the centerI ot the spiders (l1 and tlf" respectively, and springs li and L1 coiled around said stems, react against the under side ot' the guide bearings ot the stems in the spiders for flexing the diaphragme toward the plate G, as seen in dotted line with respect to one of them in Figure t.

K is a lever pivotally connected with both the diaphragm stems, its connection to the stem, J1, being slotted for accommodating the movement of the lever rocking about its pivot to the other stem, J. From the water main, B, a pipe, P, leads to the interseat or atmospheric pressure chamber. a, by way of a valve. M, which is interposed in said pipe. The valve, M, is of the turn cock type, and at the protruding larger end of the valve member there is mounted tor rocking freely, a weighted lever, comprising` the sleeve or hub, N, which is `iournaled upon the turn cocl: body, and has a weighted lever arm, r11. At what ma)7 be regarded as the normal position ot the turn cock valve, being` the position at which the pipe P is closed, the lever arm, N1, stands in the position shown in Figure Q with the weight, N3, at the left hand side ot the vertical plane of the axis of the lever where it is held by a latch, T, engaging a stud, n, which projects from the weight, N3, said latch being the shorter arm of a bell crank lever ulcrumed on the dr)v pipe valve casing and having its longer arm, T1, extending upward from the tulcrum. From the lever. K, an arm, K1, extends down to a point a short distance lower than the upper end of the arm, T1, and is there deflected horizontally, forming a terminal linger, K2, which projects across the arm, T1, in contact therewith at the weight-latching position ot the latch lever.

The operation of the structure above described is that when a reduction ot pressure occurs in the system, due to the opening of a sprinkler head, the aperture, g3, under the diaphragm, g1, being less than the aperture, g1, under the diaphragm, g, the change of pressure is transmitted more slowly to the diaphragm, (/1, than to the diaphragm, y, and in consequence, the stem, J1, following the collapse of the diaphragm, g1, carries down the right hand end ot the lever, K, causing the lever to pivot about its conneetion with the stem. J, and causing the arm` K1. carried rigidly with the lever, and swinging. therefore, about the same pivot, to swingin against the lever arm, T1, of the latch and disengage the latch from the weight. whereupon the weight tails through an are ot approximate-lv 135 degrees, the

iin, n1, ai'tcr about 30 degrees` ol that tall, encountering an abutment, m1, which projects from the valve member oi the turn Coeli, so that the weight in its further tall, turns the turn cock valve member through Sltl degrees, that is from closed to open position, admitting water pressurtl `trom the pipe, P, into the chamber, a., where, o, ing over the entire area of the valve, l), it causes the valve to be instantlv opened against the air pressure above it in the s vstem.

It will be understood that when change in pressure in the system occurs slowly. as from minor and negligible lades, such slow change is experienced so nearl)v simultaneously, or an etpial rate under both the diaphragms, that it the)v collapse at all, their collapse will be substantiallyv equal, and the movement oi the lever, K. will be a bodily movement downward, causing it at all positions to be parallel with its original position, that is, without pivotal action over either of its pivots; and in such moveiiunu. it will he observed that the end v ol the lever arm, K1, will move along.:` that lever arm. T1, without any tendency to displace the latch from its normal weight-engagrring position.

lllhen the dr v pipe valve to be reset. the attendant will also reset the accelerating device, bv closing the turn coclc valve b v means ot' the weighted lever arm, X1. he- 'lore the water is admitted 'from the .vater main to the dr v pipe valve casing. In this operation, the stud, ln, on the weight. IV. becomes engaged with the latch, T. and the lever arm, K1, is restored to vertical position and restores the lever, K, to its normal horizontal position where it will be held bv the compressed air. reaching the diaphragms from the .s stem when thc air pressure is admitted to the system in the usual wav.

Itwill be obvious that the same diaphragm mechanism and connections operated therebiY ma.,Y admit presf'vre lrom the region ot air pressure to the tei-seat chamber as easily and as eilecaivervv as 'from the region of water pressure. The construction shown in the drawi 3 is such as to permit the operator to choose between utilixingY the air pressure or the water pressure for the purpose of the device. Por admitting the air pressure a pipe. P, connected with the air pipe, C, above the drv pipe valve casing. extends down and is connected at one end ot the stem ot the T, P", in the pipe line. P. which leads from the water pipe. l. In this line, P1. there is interposed a shui-olf *alve P1, and in the pipe. P, between the water pipe. lll. and the T. P. there is also interposed a shut-oli valve. PS. ll'hen it is desired to utilize the air pressure vtor the purpose ot the device. the operator will close the valve. PS, and open the valve, P". lVhen the water pressure is rto be utilized the valve, P", will be closed and the valve, P8, will be opened.

ln order that the desired pressure may be developed in the interseat or atmospheric pressure chamber, a, by the establishment of communication between said chamber and either of the tiuid pressure regions of the system, it is necessary that the valve, D, which controls the drainage port from said interseat chamber shall be closed when the pressure communication mentioned is established. For this purpose the drainage valve, DVis ulcrumed at one side of its seat and has a lever arm, d, in the form ot a vane or plate which at open position of the valve eX- tends obliquely upward across the line of discharge of the pressure jet so as to be tilted over for closing the valve by the impact of said jet. This lever arm is. suitably weighted to hold the valve, D, normally open when it has once been set at open position, as shown in Figure 1, and in the range of movement from open to closed position of the valve the lever arm passes to substantially upright position so that the valve, once closed, is held closed by gravity.

I claim l. ln a dry pipe sprinkler system, in combination with a dry pipe main valve constructed for exposing dilerent areas to the water and air pressures respectively at its opposite sides` having for that purpose at the water inlet side a chamber in which the pressure is normally substantially atmospheric; a passage leading from the region ot one of said pressures to said atmospheric pressure chamber; a valve adapted to be closed controlling` said passage; an eXpansible and reducible chamber device consisting of two chambers exposed to air pressure from the system reaching different areas of the chamber wall through ports affording unequal access to the two chambers respectively, whereby change or air pressure in the system causes temporarily unequal pressures upon the moving walls ot said two chambers; op-

, erating connections from the eXpansible and reducible chamber device for transmitting the resulting wall movement to the pressurepassage-controlling valve, for opening the same upon predetermined diierence of pressures on the moving walls ot said respective chambers, said connections comprising pivoted means connecting the two movable chamber walls, and adapted to move at the points of connection respectively according to the di'lierential movements of the two chamber walls; and operating connections Jfrom said pivoted means tor transmitting its angular movement resulting from said differential movements of the chamber walls to the second mentioned valve.

2. ln a dry pipe sprinkler system, in combination with a dry pipe main valve constructed for exposing different areas to the water and air pressures respectively at its opposite sides,having for thatfpurpose at the water inlet side a chamber in which the pressure is normally substantiallyt atmospheric; a passage leading from the region of one oi said pressures to said chamber; a valve adapted to be closed controlling said passage; an eXpansible and reducible chamber device comprising two chambers exposed to air pressure -from the system reaching the movable walls of the respective chambers through ports affording unequal access to the respective chambers; thrust members actuated by the chamber walls respectively; a lever pivotally connected to both the thrust members, one of said pivotal connections being adapted to communicate the movement of the lever about itsV pivot to the other thrust member; a second lever, parallel with the iirst mentioned lever with which the rst mentioned lever moves when-carried by equal thrusts of the two thrust members and transversely ot which said first member moves when rocking about its pivotal connection with either of the thrust members, said two levers being engaged for rocking oi' the second lever about its i'ulcrum by said rocking movement ot the first lever, and connections by which the said rocking movement of the second lever causes the operation oit the normally closed valve.

3. In a dry pipe sprinkler system, in combination with a dry pipe main valve constructed for exposing different areas to the water and air pressures respectively at its opposite sides, having for that purpose at the water inlet side a chamber in which the pressure is normally substantially atmospheric; a passage leading from the region of one of said pressures to said chamber; a valve adapted to be closed controlling said passage; an expansible and reducible chamber device exposed to air pressure from the system reaching diierent areas of the chamber wall through ports affording unequal access thereto; operating connections from the expansible and reducible chamber device :tor transmitting the resulting wall movement to the pressure p passage controlling valve for opening the same upon predetermined ditl'erence ot' pressures on diii'erent moving wall areas ot the expansible and reducible chamber device, the second mentioned valve being of the turn-cock type, the means for turning its moving element consisting ot' a part mounted rotatably on said element, and co-operating cam features on said rotating part for relatively displacingl said elements longitudinally in a limited initial part of the relative rotative movement ot the eo-operating parts thereon, tor slacking the rictional engagement of the turncock parts before giving the opening movement.

l. In the construction delined in claini 3, a Weighted lever mounted on the tnrn-eei;

for rotation thereabont; releasahle lneans `for holdingl it, the Cani elements being on said weighted lever and alve stein respectively, and uoperating` for cainniing the valve stein longitudinally in the initial part ol the Vlaliingf movement ot' the lever.

In a dr)v pipe sprinkler system, in eonibination with a dry pipe inain valve eon- Strneled for exposing dii'erential areas to the wate' and air presenre; respectively, at its opposite sides, and having' tor that purpose at the water inlet side a ehmnber in .vhieh the pressure is normally suletantiallj.;v :tinospherie: a paseage leading troni the region et one ot' :s id pressures to s; id ehauiber: a valve eti rolling .said passage and means Vtor operating said valve to adinit the pressure to Said aunospherie pressure chainber, Said ehaniher havinga dra pori; and a valve controllingl the gaine vfheh adapted to be set and remain noi-inni llll valv, and lneans connected with said laet mentioned valve exposed to the pressure at'- initied through said paesaye and adapte-l to be actuated thereby for Cloer 'he drainage valve When the preSSrn-e eolnniunieation is established.

(i. ln the construction defined in elainr Si, foregoing, the drainage valve being fulernined at one Side ot its seat and adapted to be held seated by gravity, and lever means connected therewith tor holdinj Y it open by gravity vvhen it has been Set at open position, lsaid lever nvr-ins e.\;tendin r across; the path o'l the pressure admitted through said passage ior actuation therebj,Y in direetion lor seating said drainage valve.

'i'. in the construction de'ined in claim 5. foregoing, the drainage valve being tulrruined at one side ot its seat and having a lever arni extended at ,ueh angle to the valve and ol" such weight as to hold the valve seated b v gr: vilv vvhen it has )een set at closed position and to hold it open by gravit); when has` been eety at open position. iid lever arni at the open position of the vaive extending in the path ot the pressure admiited through said pasagei Vtor actuation iherebv to seat the valve.

in tt tiiniinj 'vfiiereol l ha ve hei-eamo zei n y hand at Chicago, illinois, this lllh day Ul' dit.

ICM ll', TYDEN. 

